The rift between the Social Democrats and the Left Party is widening. Ahead of the first major test following the election, the Left Party is going against the Social Democrats and backing the Moderates” Andreas Norlén—a move described by a former Social Democratic leader as a ”declaration of war.”.
Magdalena Andersson is trying to rally the Social Democrats (S), the Left Party (V), the Green Party (MP), and the Center Party (C) behind an alternative government after the election. But even before any coalition talks have begun, tensions come to a head when the new Riksdag is set to elect a speaker.
On Sunday evening, the Left Party announced that it intends to vote for the Moderates Andreas Norlén. Since the M, SD, KD, and L parties also support him, Norlén thus has the backing of a majority ahead of the election for Speaker of the Riksdag.
V is running against S
The Social Democrats have wanted a Speaker from their own party. The Vice Chair of the V Party Ida Gabrielsson said, however, in SVT's Agenda on Sunday evening that Norlén's experience and position outside the red-green political tug-of-war work in his favor.
– It may take a long time for Sweden to form a government, and we believe that we need stability in the Riksdag. That is why we will cast our vote for Andreas Norlén.
The announcement comes at a time when relations between the Social Democrats and the Left Party are already strained. Gabrielsson himself acknowledges that the parties on the red-green side have not yet managed to unite, while the Left Party remains firm in its demand for influence in the government.
– It’s clear that we haven’t managed to come together on this issue. So far, we haven’t been able to organize a coffee break with all four parties. This is something we in the Left Party have wanted for a very long time.
”A Declaration of War”
Irene Wennemo, a former Social Democratic state secretary, describes the situation as increasingly serious for Andersson’s attempt to form a government. She believes that the Left Party is pushing the conflict hard and says that the Speaker’s announcement will be received very negatively within the Social Democratic Party.
– It will be perceived as a declaration of war and as a sign that the process of forming this government will go from bad to worse, she tells SVT.
Wennemo also says that the Left Party is ”playing a high-stakes game.” The political scientist Erik Wångmar At Linnaeus University, meanwhile, the assessment is that the Social Democrats will be ”extremely upset” by the V party’s announcement.
First Test After the Election
The tensions extend beyond the speakership. The Left Party is demanding a role in the government, while the Center Party opposes any government coalition that includes the Left Party, which has complicated Andersson’s efforts to bring the four parties together.
The election of the Speaker will thus be the first open test of strength within the prospective governing coalition. Gabrielsson also says that the V Party still supports Magdalena Andersson as prime minister—despite the agreement on the Speaker’s position.
That's the only time I agree with Calle Stropp.
A green-and-red mess.
The Social Democrats have essentially declared war on the Swedish people by admitting more than 2 million foreigners who are not even authorized to stay in the country.
This must be combated if Sweden is to survive.